Over the course of the last 16 months we have successfully managed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic without impact to essential city services. We have employed many different strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among our employee base, with isolating positive cases away from the workforce being the most effective. The availability of paid leave is a key component of managing and encouraging employees to stay home if they do not feel well. During the period of April 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 the Family First Coronavirus Response Act required us to pay leave related to the pandemic. Once the mandated program ended, we presented and received Council approval to extend the benefit through May 31, 2021. In pursuit of continued effective mitigation strategies while the pandemic is still active, we propose reinstating the leave retroactively to June 1, 2021 and leave in place until such time that Governor Ducey’s Declaration of Emergency – COVID-19 is lifted. Employees who are ill will be required to provide proof of a positive diagnosis to access the leave. Typically, there is a ten-day isolation period required before employees can return to work and this leave would cover that period. Based on our past experience, we estimate that on average approximately 10 to 12 employees per month will access the leave.

Approve reinstating, retroactively, paid leave for employees testing positive for COVID-19. (Lyman Locket, Human Resources Director)

It is estimated that 10-12 employees per month will avail themselves of this leave. The majority of this leave will have no budgetary impact as employees will continue to get paid their budgeted salary while on COVID leave. In the event that backfills are necessary to ensure adequate staffing it is anticipated that the cost of these backfills will be absorbed within the departments currently allocated budget. The actual cost of this leave is an eligible expense under the American Rescue Plan Act and may be used as part of our reimbursement reporting under COVID Expenses

Over the course of the last 16 months we have successfully managed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic without impact to essential city services. We have employed many different strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among our employee base, with isolating positive cases away from the workforce being the most effective. During the period of April 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 the Family First Coronavirus Response Act required us to pay leave related to the pandemic. Once the mandated program ended, we presented and received Council approval to extend the benefit through May 31, 2021.

Based on our past experience, we estimate that on average approximately 10 to 12 employees per month will access the leave.